In the emerging nutrition category that has informally come to be called “superfruits”, Indian Gooseberry, otherwise known as Phyllanthus emblica, Emblica Officinalis or simply amla, is slowly but surely emerging from its roots in Ayurveda to establish itself with modern science as a force to be reckoned with in today’s world of preventative medicine.
Among the many active ingredients in Phyllanthus emblica are low molecular weight polyphenols known as tannins. The fruit is one of the richest sources of vitamin C in nature, and is also high in minerals and various other micronutrients. It is accepted that vitamins and minerals perform an antioxidant role against free radicals, including those generated by cigarette smoke.
A recent in-house proprietary trial conducted with laboratory rats examined the protective actions of Embelica Officinalis against the damaging effects of second-hand cigarette smoke. Interestingly, these protective actions were directly compared to those of a common multivitamin/mineral supplement. The study, which was published in Pharmacology Online, divided the laboratory rats into three groups exposed to cigarette smoke: the first group was administered with amla extract, the second group was administered with a multivitamin/mineral complex, and the third group was exposed only to the cigarette smoke. When the lungs and liver of the rats were examined at the end of the study, it was found that the extent of the oxidative damage caused by the cigarette smoke was significantly less than that seen in the other groups. Scientists did note that the multivitamin/mineral supplement also inhibited the oxidative damage, but “to a much lesser extent” than that seen in the amla group.
For more Information, see AMLA.
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